Bismillah Khan - Shehnai

© SATYENDRA SINGH

'Bismillah Khan' 2004 (ball pen sketch)

Size - 11" x 14"

(Bismillah Khan)

Ustad Bismillah Khan (1913 – 2006), Ustad Bismillah Khan brought 'Shehnai' to the center stage of Indian classical music with his concert in the Calcutta All India Music Conference in 1937. 

While the Shehnai had long held importance as a folk instrument played primarily during traditional ceremonies, Khan is credited with elevating its status and bringing it to the concert stage. 

He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001, becoming the third classical musician after M.S. Subbulakshmi and Ravi Shankar to be accorded this distinction.

AWARDS:- 

S. No.	Year	Award
1	1930	‘Best Performer’ in all India Music Conference, Allahabad.
2	1937	Three medals in All India Music Conference, Culcutta.
3		Tansen Award by Govt. of Madhya Pradesh.
4	1956	Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
5	1961	Padma Shri.
6	1968	Padma Bhushan.
7	1980	Padma Vibhushan.
8	1992	Talar Mausiquee from Republic of Iran.
9	1994	Fellow of Sangeet Natak Akademi.
10	2001	Bharat Ratna.